Welch Says Shootings Highlight Toxic Political Atmosphere

(Host) Congressman
Peter Welch says the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will shine a
light on the harmful effects of using angry and violent language as part of the
country's political debate.

Welch
says both Republicans and Democrats are responsible for creating such a toxic
political atmosphere.

VPR's Bob Kinzel reports.

(Kinzel)
Welch says the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords is "a devastating personal
blow" because they've worked together on a number of issues over the last 4
years.

Welch
says the intensity of political debate in this country has gotten out of
control in recent years. While he says
it's difficult to cite this as factor in this shooting, he says this
development has been very detrimental to the political system.

(Welch) "It creates a sense of anger and you had
some politicians talking about bullets not ballots. I mean things like that are
obviously provocative and hurtful - they're harmful to maintaining civility in
a democratic society."

(Kinzel)
While some groups are blaming conservative Republicans for the escalation of
hateful and angry debate, Welch says some Democrats are also guilty.

(Welch) "You can come up with examples on both
sides and you can have an argument about who does more of it and how much of it
is from the vitriol you hear on the talk radio shows, but if we try to get into
the assignment of blame I don't know that we'll end up making much progress."

(Kinzel)
Welch says Vermont has been relatively free of the politics of hate and
he thinks it serves as a model for the nation.

(Welch) "I think that Vermont does have an
enormous amount to offer to the rest of the country about the way Vermonters go
about their political debate. Vermonters are extremely passionate about issues
but civility matters and Vermonters understand that."

(Kinzel)
The House was scheduled this week to debate a repeal of the health care reform
law. That vote has now been postponed for at least a week.

(Welch) "I don't expect that this massacre is
going to change anybody's vote on health care but I do hope it's going to affect
everyone's tone. That all of us will be as passionate in our point of view as
we were but that we will refrain from any kind of ad hominine arguments
characterizing or vilifying the people we disagree with as having any motivations
purer than ours."

(Kinzel)
Later this week, Congressional leaders will consider several plans to provide
more security to members of Congress. Welch says he's hoping that the proposal
won't make it more difficult for him to interact with Vermonters.

(Welch) "I've got to tell you, my personal
experience in Vermont with the
nearly 100 ‘Congress in your communities' that I've done have been very
positive but I'm not the security expert. On a personal level, talking directly
to Vermonters has always been one of the best experiences."

(Kinzel)
Welch says the shooting shouldn't be used to promote new federal gun control
laws. He argues these laws should be
developed on a state by state basis.